Closure apparatus



Sept. 28, 1965 A. A. QUIMPER CLOSURE APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1965 Sept. 28, 1965 A. A. QUIMPER CLOSURE APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1963 Sept. 28, 1965 A. A. QUIMPER CLOSURE APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 12, 1963 United States Patent O 3,208,809 CLOSURE APPARATUS Anthony A. Quimper, Westfield, Mass., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,769 3 Claims. (Cl. 312-295) The present invention relates to a closure comprising horizontally slidable lids for an open top cabinet. More particularly, it relates to a closure comprising front and rear lids slidable forwardly and rearwardly, the rear lid being slidable forwardly onto the top of the front lid to provide access to the rear portion of the interior of the cabinet, and the front lid being slidable rearwardly under and raising the rear lid to provide access to the front portion of the interior of the cabinet.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved closure, 9. more particular object being to facilitate returning the front lid to its closed position without carrying the rear lid with it and thereby necessitating a separate manual movement to return the rear lid to its closed position.

In accordance with the present invention, the rear lid and the cabinet are provided with interlocking elements so disposed as to interlock and prevent forward movement of the rear lid when the rear lid is in its rearmost position and is raised by the front lid disposed therebeneath. The interlocking elements may comprise an upwardly-extending projection on the rear lid adjacent its rear edge, and a downwardly-extending projection or flange mounted on the cabinet and disposed so that it is directly in front of the projection or lip of the rear lid when the rear lid is in said rearmost, raised position.

With this arrangement, as the front lid is moved rearwardly to open position, it slides under and raises the rear lid, the projection of which is thereby brought into interlocking relation with the projection carried by the cabinet. Accordingly, when the front lid is moved forwardly to return it to closed position, the projection of the rear lid engages the projection on the cabinet to prevent forward movement of the rear lid. As the rear edge of the top surface of the front lid passes forwardly of the center of gravity of the rear lid, the latter tilts rearwardly so that its projection drops out of abutment with the cabinet projection. However, due to the inclined position of the lower surface of the rear lid, tending to slide the rear lid rearwardly, together with the friction of its rear edge resting on the supporting surfaces, and the front end of the rear lid gliding at minimum friction on the rear end of the front lid, the rear lid is not carried forwardly with the front lid and drops down to horizontal position resting on the supporting surfaces when the front lid reaches its foremost position.

These and other objects of the invention will appear more fully from the detailed description which follows, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an open top cabinet having a closure comprising sliding lids in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line II- II of FIG. 1, showing both front and rear lids in closed position.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line III-III of FIG. 1, showing the rear lid in its open position, atop the front lid, to provide access to the rear portion of the interior of the cabinet.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line IVIV of FIG. 1, showing the front lid in its open position beneath the rear lid to provide access to the front portion of the interior of the cabinet.

3,208,809 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line IVIV of FIG. 1, showing the front and rear lids in a position occupied in the course of forward movement of the front lid from the open position shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the front and rear lids in positions they occupy at a more advanced point in the forward movement of the front lid.

FIG. 7 is :a similar view showing the positions of the lids at a still more advanced point in the forward movement of the front lid.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of the lid retaining elements.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention is shown in an open top cabinet which comprises a front wall 11, a rear wall 12, end walls 13 and 14 and a bottom wall 15. To provide a closure for the open top, there are provided pairs or sets of sliding lids, each set comprising a front lid 16 and a rear lid 17. While the illustrated embodiment is provided with three sets of lids, there may be one or any plural number of sets of lids so far as the invention is concerned.

The cabinet is provided with supporting or gliding surfaces 18 on which the lids are supported and are slidable forwardly and rearwardly. Two of such supporting or gliding surfaces 18 are provided by the end walls 13 and 14. Intermediate the ends of the cabinet is provided with two lidsupports 19, in the nature of rails, which extend from the front wall 11 to the rear wall 12 and are removably supported thereon. Each of these lid supports is of inverted T-shape in cross section, comprising a vertical portion which serves as a guide for the lids on the opposite sides thereof, and two horizontal flanges 21, the upper surfaces of which provide the supporting or gliding surfaces 18 for the lids on the opposite sides of the lid support. The front wall 11 is also provided with a supporting or gliding surface 22.

The lower surfaces of the lids 16 and 17 and the supporting or gliding surfaces 18 and 22 for supporting the same are all disposed in a common plane, and the upper surfaces of the lids are also disposed in a common plane, so that these lids are sometimes referred to as common plane or equal plane sliding lids.

Each lid is provided with a handle 23 which extends upwardly from the top surface adjacent the front edge thereof. Each front lid 16, adjacent its rear edge is provided with an inclined upper surface 24, so that the front lid tapers rearwardly toward the lower surface. Each rear lid 17 is provided adjacent its front edge with an inclined lower surface 25, providing the lid 17 with a portion adjacent the front edge which tapers toward the top surface of the lid. The inclined surfaces 24 and 25, both inclined forwardly and upwardly, :are disposed in opposed relation when both lids are closed as shown in FIG. 2, but these surfaces are at a small angle to each other rather than parallel.

In accordance with the present invention, the rear lid and the cabinet are provided with cooperating interlocking elements arranged so that they provide interlocking engagement when the rear lid is in its rearmost, raised position and are out of interlocking relation when the rear edge of the rear lid drops down into engagement with the supporting surfaces. In the illustrated embodiment, each rear lid 17 is provided with a projection extending upwardly from the top surface adjacent the rear edge of the lid, this projection being in the form of an upwardly extending lip 26 extending along the full length of the rear edge of the cover. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet is provided with a lid retaining element which is in the form of a flange 27 extending along the full length of the cabinet and supported on the overhanging portion of a rear panel or bar 28. The flange 27 projects downwardly in such position that when the rear lid 17 is in its rearmost position and is raised by the front lid sliding thereunder, it is directly in front of the lip 27 and prevents forward movement of the rear lid 17 while in its elevated position, after a small initial movement to bring the lip 26 and the flange 27 into abutment, as will be apparent from FIG. 4.

Suitable gaskets may be provided for sealing the cabinet against loss of cool air. These may include a gasket 29 at the front edge of the front lid 16, a gasket 31 mounted on the inclined lower surface 25 of the 'rear lid, and gaskets 32 and 33 carried by a bracket 34 on the rear wall 12 and adapted to contact the rear and bottom surfaces of the rear lid 17.

In the closed position of the lids shown in FIG. 2, they provide a'complete closure for the open top. The tapered portion of the rear lid adjacent its front edge overlaps the tapered portion of the front lid 16 at its rear edge, with the inclined surfaces 24 and 25 in opposing relation.

To obtain access to the rear portion of the interior of the cabinet, one merely grasps the handle of the rear lid 17 and slides it forwardly over the front lid 16 to the position shown in FIG. 3. The front lid 16 is retained against forward movement by abutment with the front wall 11. To return the rear lid to closed position, one merely grasps its handle 23 and slides it rearwardly over the front lid 16 until its rear surface abuts the stop 35; The rear lid 17 slides freely over the front lid 16, particularly as it contacts principally the corner 36 at the junction .of the inclined surface 24 and the horizontal flat top surface of the lid 16.

To obtain access to the front portion of the interior of the cabinet, the front lid 16 is slid rearwardly. Its inclined surface 24 engages the inclined surface 25 of the rear lid 17, thereby wedging under the rear lid 17 and forcing it upwardly. The front lid 16 continues to slide under the rear lid, bringing it to the elevated position shown in FIG. 4. The projection or lip 26 is now directly in back of the flange 27. Accordingly, upon forward movement of the front lid 16 to return it to closed position, the rear lid 17 moves forwardly with" it only the very short distance to bring the lip 26 into abutment with the flange 27, whereupon forward movement of the rear lid 17 is prevented by the flange 27. The forward movement of the front lid 16 sliding under the rear lid 17 continues, as shown in FIG. 5, until the mentioned corner 36 passes forwardly of the center of gravity of the rear lid 17, after which the rear lid 17 tilts about such corner, the rear portion moving downwardly to move the lip 26 out of abutment with the flange 27, as shown in FIG. 6. However, due to the inclined position of the rear lid, it tends to slide rearwardly. Be-

cause of this and frictional contact between the rear end of the rear lid 17 with the supporting or gliding surface,

and because of the minimal friction at the corner 36, the front lid 16 moves forwardly without carrying the rear lid 17 forwardly with it. As the corner 36, in the continued forward movement of the front lid 16, passes the corner 37 formed by the junction of the inclined surface 25 and the flat bottom surface of the rear lid 17,

said corner 37 of the rear lid engages the relatively steep til its gasket 29 abuts the front wall 11, at which timethe rear lid drops down to its horizontal, fully closed position resting on the suporting surfaces 18, as shown in FIG. 2. It will thus be seen that there is provided a novel means for preventing the rear lid from being carried forwardly by the front lid when the latter is returned to its closed position, so that it is not necessary.

to return the rear lid to its closed position a separate additional manual movement after the frontlid is returned to its closed position.

' rearwardly from top to bottom. The purpose of this modification is to retain these elements in engagement a little longer after the corner 36 passes the center of gravity'of the lid 17, as described above. In all other respects, however, this modification is the same as the first embodiment.

While the invention hasbeen shown in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing "from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with an open top cabinet, of

a front lid and a rear lid each of rectangular outline and adapted for sliding forwardly and rearwardly,

the cabinet having a pair of parallel supporting or gliding surfaces extending from front to rear for supporting said lids for sliding forwardly and rearwardy: V

each lid being provided with handle means on top adjacent the front edge,

the front and rear lids having cooperating portions, one of which has a surface inclined upwardly and forwardly, whereby when the front lid is slid rearwardly, it raises the rear lid and slides thereunder,

the rear lid and the cabinet having cooperating interlocking elements disposed adjacent the rear edge of the rear lid in its closed position,

said interlocking elements being so arranged that they are brought into interlocking relation and prevent forward movement of the rear lid when the rear lid is in its rearmost position and is raised by the front lid disposed under the same and are out of interlocking relation to permit unrestricted forward movement of the rear lid when the rear edge thereof is resting on said supporting surfaces.

2. The combination with an open top cabinet, of

a front lid and a rear lid each of rectangular outline and adapted for sliding forwardly and rearwardly,

the cabinet being provided with a pair of supporting or gliding surfaces extending from front to rear for supporting the lids for sliding movement thereon,

each lid being provided with a handle on top adjacent the front edge,

the front lid having adjacent its rear edge an upper surface which is inclined downwardlyand rearwardlyv toward the rear edge,

the rear lid having adjacent itsfront edge a lower sur face which is inclined upwardly and forwardly toward the front edge} whereby when the front lid is moved rearwardly it wedges under and raises the rear lid, the rear lid having a projection extending upwardly from its upper surface adjacent the rear edge thereof, and 1 the cabinet having a lid retaining element disposed directly in front of said projection when said rear lid is in its rearmost position and is raised by said front lid disposed therebeneath, whereby, upon forward movement of the front lid from under the rear lid, said rear lid is retained against forward movement until the front lid has moved forwardly sufiiciently for the rear portion of the rear lid to tilt downwardly and engage said supporting surfaces. 3. The combination with an open top cabinet, of

front and rear lids for closing the open top of the cabinet,

the cabinet having parallel supporting surfaces extending front to rear for supporting said lids for sliding forwardly and rearwardly,

the rear margin of the front lid being tapered toward the lower surface of the lid and the front margin of the rear lid being tapered toward the upper surface of the lid,

the rear lid having an upwardly extending lip along its rear edge, and

the cabinet having a downwardly extending flange so disposed adjacent said lip that it is engaged by said lip and thereby stops forward movement of said References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,189,389 2/40 Baker 22041 2,276,635 3/42 Weber 22041 2,613,844 10/52 Mounce 220-41 2,899,252 8/59 Rolfe 312138 FOREIGN PATENTS 158,085 8/54 Australia. 1,219,364 12/59 France.

114,476 7/45 Sweden.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

rear lid when the latter is in its rearmost position 15 CHANCELLOR E'HARRIQEWWZI'MF- and raised by the front lid disposed therebeneath. 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH AN OPEN TOP CABINET, OF A FRONT LID AND A REAR LID EACH OF RECTANGULAR OUTLINE AND ADAPTED FOR SLIDING FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLY, THE CABINET HAVING A PAIR OF PARALLEL SUPPORTING OR GLIDING SURFACES EXXTENDING FROM FRONT TO REAR FOR SUPPORTING SAID LIDS FOR SLIDING FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLY, EACH LID BEING PROVIDED WITH HANDLE MEANS ON TOPE ADJACENT THE FRONT EDGE, THEE FRONT AND REAR LIDS HAVING COOPEKRATING PORTIONS, ONE OF WHICH HAS A SURFACE INCLINED UPWADLYY ANND FORWARDLY, WHEREBY WHEN THE FRONT LID AND SLIDES THEREUNDER, WARDLY, IT RAISES THE REAR LID AND SLIDES THEREUNDER, THE REAR LID AND THE CABINET HAVING COOPERATING INTERLOCKING ELEMENTS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE REAR EDGE OF THE RREAR LID IN ITS CLOSED POSITION, SAIDI INTERLOCKING ELEMENTS BEING SO ARRANGED THAT THEY ARE BROUGHT INTO INTERLOCKING RELATION AND PREVENT FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE REAR LID WHEN THE REAR LID IS IN ITS REARMOST POSITION AND IS RAISED BY THE FRONT LID DISPOSED UNDER THE SAME AND ARE OUT OF INTERLOCKING RELATION TO PERMIT UNRESTRICTED FORWARD MOVEMENNT OF THE REAR LID WHEN THE REAR EDGE THEREOF IS RESTING ONN SAID SUPPORTING SURFACES. 